How to Recognize the Symptoms of Hayfever

Hayfever is an umbrella term referring to any number of specific allergies. Hayfever is an allergic reaction to airborne pollens from certain plants and trees. Hayfever got its name because it typically coincides with haying season on farmers, which runs from May to June.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Doctor to prescribe medications

Learn to Recognize the Symptoms of Hayfever

1. Notice when your symptoms occur. If they are especially bad during the late spring and early summer, up to the end of June, it is quite possible that you suffer from hayfever. As a pollen allergy, hayfever hits its peak during the time plants and trees are blooming.
2. Make a list of the common symptoms of hayfever, then check your symptoms against it. The most common symptoms of hayfever are coughing, runny nose, itching in the eyes, nose, mouth, or skin, sneezing, headache and difficulty breathing.
3. Watch for secondary symptoms. Some of the less common hayfever symptoms are fever, fatigue or infections like conjunctivitis (commonly known as "pink eye").
4. Know that you may exhibit one, none or all of these symptoms. Most likely, you will exhibit a combination of some of the more common symptoms.
5. Notice that your symptoms may be worse at different points in the day. Since hayfever is caused by pollen, symptoms will correspond to the flowering times of your local flora.
6. Be able to recognize when a hayfever attack is beginning so that you can take medications as soon as possible. Mild to moderate hayfever attacks are usually treated with over the counter medications available at your local pharmacy.
7. Talk to your doctor right away once you recognize the symptoms of hayfever. Chronic sufferers and those who suffer moderate to intense hayfever attacks may need prescription medications to treat the condition.
8. Learn more about hayfever, including how to recognize symptoms and when to seek medical treatment at E Medicine Health (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Note that hayfever is an often misused term. Hayfever specifically relates to pollen allergies. Many allergy sufferers never see a doctor and are confused about their specific allergy. This is especially true among those who suffer from animal dander allergies that are undiagnosed.
• If your hayfever symptoms do not improve with the help of over the counter medications, you may need prescription medications. See your doctor immediately if your symptoms do not improve.

Who Can Help: